The AW159 Wildcat helicopter can operate from surface combatants, including frigates, destroyers, and cruisers.
Torpedoes, missiles, and cannons. These are the weapon systems mainly associated with modern surface warships. However, surface combatants often carry helicopters on board to maximize their destructive skills, as well as diversify their capabilities.
The Royal Navy’s AW159 Wildcat helicopter is such a helicopter.
The Wildcat
The AW159 Wildcat is a multirole helicopter that can operate from surface combatants, including frigates, destroyers, and cruisers.
Built by Agusta Westland and Leonardo, the helicopter can reach speeds of 160 knots (approximately 185 miles per hour) and has an operational range of 250 nautical miles (290 miles). This is a two-crew helicopter that can take up to six fully geared troops. It can also carry up to 1 ton of equipment.
To achieve its diverse mission set, the AW159 Wildcat carries a wide range of weapon systems, including Sting Ray torpedoes, Martlet multirole missiles, Sea Venom anti-ship missiles, and an M3M .50 caliber machine gun.
The helicopter sports advanced systems and sensors, including a digital glass cockpit that comes with four multifunction displays designed to give the pilots increased situational awareness and improved communications capabilities. The AW159 also has an MX-15 Wescam Electro Optical Device on its nose, giving the helicopter the ability to detect, track, and engage targets at significant ranges under varied weather conditions.
The Wildcat in Royal Navy Service
In the Royal Navy, AW159 Wildcats form up the rotary wing element in frigates and destroyers. There are three operational squadrons that operate the helicopter (815 Naval Air Squadron, 825 Naval Air Squadron, and 847 Naval Air Squadron). The AW159 is in service with both the British Army and the Royal Navy for a total of over 60 aircraft. The South Korean and Philippine Navies are also operating the Wildcat, while Algeria has expressed interest in the helicopter.
“As a ship-borne helicopter, the Wildcat will provide commanders with a flexible attack capability which can be deployed to tackle a range of threats at sea and from the sea. With state-of-the-art sensors, equipment and weapons, it is an outstanding asset that will maintain Royal Naval units at the cutting edge of worldwide maritime operations,” the Royal Navy states about the AW159 Wildcat.
The Wildcat replaced the Lynx MK8, bringing more powerful engines and a true all-weather capability.
In procuring the helicopter, the Royal Navy was looking for an aerial platform that could accompany its surface combatants and be able to conduct a wide range of mission sets, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, counter-drone, force protection, and counter-piracy operations. Recently, Royal Marines commandos used the Wildcat as an aerial sniping platform to take out drug smuggling skiffs off the coast of Oman.
But the Wildcat is not limited to combat operations, and the helicopter can also conduct search-and-rescue, humanitarian relief, and evacuation missions.
Although the Royal Navy’s surface fleet relies mainly on missiles and torpedoes to counter enemy warships, submarines, and aircraft, the organic helicopter element each warship carries increases a frigate’s or destroyer’s capabilities, enabling it to deal with more threats simultaneously. The AW159 Wildcat might not be as “sexy” as stealth fighter jets or advanced unmanned aerial systems, but it is a reliable platform capable of a wide range of mission sets.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com
